RSS Feedhttps://10.40.239.128/blogs/rss-feed/Blog RSS Feeden{303BD8E7-CB1F-4CAF-8DDC-5FE11460FD52}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/convenient-maybe--but-consumer-reports-says-laundry-detergent-pods-too-dangerous-to-recommend/Convenient, maybe. But Consumer Reports says laundry detergent &#39;pods&#39; too dangerous to recommendKids often have trouble distinguishing between candy and other &ldquo;look-a-likes.&rdquo; These highly concentrated detergent packets come in bright colors and shiny packages that interest and entice small children. This is especially true of &ldquo;oral explorers&rdquo; &ndash; children ages one to two years old that like to put things in their mouth.
<p>Since 2012, more than 33,000 calls were made to poison control centers &hellip; that&rsquo;s an average of one call an hour! According to Consumer Reports, these numbers continue to grow despite warnings and packaging changes. Because of this, the popular consumer product review group has deemed all products in this category as &ldquo;too dangerous to recommend.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The Utah Poison Control Center has recorded the following call volumes associated to the pods: </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Total Calls&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For individuals under age 6</p>
<p>2012&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 167&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 150</p>
<p>2013&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;158&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 144</p>
<p>2014&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 206&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 186</p>
</blockquote> <br />
<p>The reason is when children eat these concentrated detergent packets, it often leads to hospitalization for difficulty breathing, excessive vomiting, severe eye burns and irritation, temporary loss of vision, and even death. While some kids show no symptoms, others will show mild to severe stomach upset, wheezing, gasping, or being very sleepy. </p>
<p>If you are concerned that your child has eaten something dangerous &ndash; laundry packet or other substance &ndash; call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 or see your health care provider.</p>
<p>Of course, preventing a child from eating these packets (or anything else they aren&rsquo;t supposed to) is the surest way to keep your child safe. It is important to keep laundry packets in their containers and up high out of reach (keeping the packets in the container, rather than loose on the washing machine, seems to help deter children for getting into them). Remember, even if they are set on top of a machine, children are very inventive for getting a boost from anything in the area (including piles of laundry!). Packets can also be shook from a machine during spin cycles. Child-deterrent cabinet locks, or latches on laundry room doors, keeps them out of harm&rsquo;s way and safe from accidental poisoning.</p>Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{7B0BEC91-9AA1-449D-887F-1F021C5BA865}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/heart-healthy-recipe-farmers-market-mediterranean-pasta/Heart-healthy Recipe: Farmers Market Mediterranean Pasta<p>After a trip to the farmers market (or a walk through your own garden), you may come back to the kitchen with a bounty of beautiful, bright, and ready to use vegetables. Make these vegetables the focal point of this pasta dish. I've provided a template here, but experiment with other vegetables you may bring home - it's a recommendation I give to the moms competing in this year's&nbsp;<strong>Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute's My Heart Challenge: Moms Edition</strong>. You can also substitute different grains, cheeses, and nuts to make your own unique dish.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>1 lb. orzo pasta (or other small pasta)</li>
<li>2 zucchini, chopped</li>
<li>1 yellow squash, chopped</li>
<li>1 eggplant, chopped (skin may be loft on or peeled according to your preference)</li>
<li>1 large yellow onion (or 2 smaller), chopped</li>
<li>2 large handfuls cherry tomatoes, sliced in half</li>
<li>2 cloves garlic, minced</li>
<li>3 T pine nuts, toasted</li>
<li>1/4 cup coarsely chopped Parmesan cheese</li>
<li>2 T + 1 T extra virgin olive oil</li>
<li>Salt and pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Bring a large pot of water to boil for the pasta - cook to al-dente and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.</li>
<li>While the water comes to a boil, heat a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 T of the olive oil, then add the chopped onion. Saute until the onion is translucent (5-7 minutes). Add the halved tomatoes and garlic, stir to combine and reduce heat to low. Let simmer for about 15 minutes.</li>
<li>In a small dry skillet or on a baking sheet, toast the pine nuts until fragrant. They roast quickly, so take care not to burn them. When lightly golden, set aside.</li>
<li>Combine the zucchini, yellow squash, and eggplant with the tomato and onion mixture. Cook until the eggplant is tender (about 5 minutes).&nbsp;</li>
<li>In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, 1/2 cup reserved cooking liquid (pasta water), and veggie mixture. Top with the extra 1 T olive oil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, salt and pepper.</li>
<li>Can be served hot or cold.</li>
</ol>Mon, 20 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{45A40803-3817-47D3-BD0D-D56DCCA1F8E6}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/garden-tips-pests-overcrowding/Garden Tips: Dealing with Pests, Overcrowding and Early Harvests<h3>Dealing with Pests</h3>
<p>The picture below is of one of the squash plants I transplanted earlier this summer. As you can see there is a problem with the leaf, looking perforated with leaf spots. After looking at the leaf under a microscope, enlarging the view 30 times, it turns out the culprits causing the damage are <a href="http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/insects/thrips/thrips-outdoors.aspx" target="_blank">thrips</a>. These little pests carve up plants to get to the juices and leave unsightly marks.</p>
<div style="position: relative; display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="/~/media/Images/Modules/Blog/Posts/2015/thrips-leaves.jpg?h=467&amp;w=700" alt="Thrips are a common garden pest that can cause unsightly damage to plants" style="height: 467px; width: 700px;">&amp;amp;amp;nbsp;</iframe></div>
<p>There are several insecticides you can use to beat back the thrips, including: horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, neem oil, pyrethrum spray, spinosad, and a product called Triple-Action Plus.</p>
<h3>Plant/Bed Overcrowding</h3>
<p>While you want to maximize your garden space, it&rsquo;s easy to plant too much in too little space and be faced with overcrowding. Looking at your garden, you may wonder, &ldquo;Did I plant too much? Should I get rid of plants?&rdquo; The answer depends on if too many plants in that space will affect your harvest and which plants are most important to you.</p>
<p>If a plant crowds out another plant that is more important, you can prune back the other one to keep it in check. If that doesn&rsquo;t work then you may have to pull something. Remember, a weed is any plant out of place, and that can include an aggressive vegetable plant that is disturbing a plant that is more important to you.</p>
<h3>Pick Beans and Squash While Young and Tender</h3>
<p>Beans and Squash are coming on and it is a good idea to pick them when they are young and tender. This will encourage the plants to continue to produce them for you. A plant&rsquo;s desire &mdash; if it has one &mdash; is to reproduce offspring by setting ripe fruit and or seeds; if you stop this genetic tendency by picking often, before they are fully ripe, then they will usually keep producing for quite some time, giving you a greater harvest.</p>
<h3>Getting the Most Out of Broccoli</h3>
<p>If you are growing broccoli, and still would like tender heads, you can probably get them by pruning off all of the seed stalks that are no longer tasty or tender. If you are vigilant with this it will probably work, allowing you to get some new tender heads. They will not be as big, but still should taste delightful.</p>
<h3>The Many Uses of Bulb Onions</h3>
<p>Onions can be eaten at almost any stage of development. The stems of bulb and bunching onions can be cut and used like chives.&nbsp; If you cut a stem, leaving most of the stems intact, the bulbs will still develop just fine and you get several harvests from the same onion plant. I like to cut the tender new growth into small pieces and add them to my omelets. I do this from several plants throughout the season so as not to sap too much energy from one plant. The bulbs will continue to grow larger throughout the summer and the stems will eventually fall over, which is normal. This indicates the onions are mature.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.garden.org/foodguide/browse/veggie/onions_harvesting/501" target="_blank">Learn more about harvesting onions</a> </li>
</ul>Mon, 20 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{212F4C4A-27E7-419C-9F20-2F0A6F8FB570}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/keeping-antibiotics-useful/Keeping Antibiotics Useful<p>There are currently strains of bacteria that we cannot treat with antibiotics; we need to stop this from happening as much as we can. And at Intermountain, we&rsquo;re doing our part.</p>
<div style="position: relative; display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe frameborder="0" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: medium none;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/D4Ugm2o09m8"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>A little history</strong></p>
<p>Most antibiotics are naturally made in soil and water, and they take eons to produce. They&rsquo;re nature&rsquo;s way of fighting bacteria. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered the antibiotic properties of penicillin, changing the medical world. We used it and other natural antibiotics to fight illnesses that were otherwise deadly. Penicillin was considered a miracle drug. But through the years, scientists realized that the antibiotics were losing their punch. Experts started warning against overuse, trying to get the medical community to be responsible.</p>
<p>Overexposure to antibiotics causes bacteria to develop resistance because they naturally mutate to prevent being wiped out. It&rsquo;s a survival mechanism. Unfortunately, it takes a long, long time to build new antibiotics to fight the new, more resistant bacteria. By the 1970s and 80s, scientists were engineering new antibiotics as a fix to the resistance problem. Some thought we were in the clear, and for a time, we were. But, after decades, these antibiotics also started to fail. Now we know that <em>all</em> antibiotics eventually fail. </p>
<p><strong>The situation today</strong></p>
<p>Scientists say we are now in the &ldquo;post-antibiotic era,&rdquo; trying to merely maintain some of the effect we can have over infection-causing bacteria. This is a public health concern and everybody&rsquo;s problem. </p>
<p>We have a lot of medical advancements that are amazing, like organ transplants and other life-saving procedures&hellip;but if we can&rsquo;t fight infection, we can&rsquo;t perform the procedures. </p>
<p><strong>What can we do?</strong></p>
<p>How do we fix this problem? There are several ways to help, but the biggest impact we can have is through deliberate &ldquo;antibiotic stewardship.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s estimated that 30-50% of antibiotic use is inappropriate. This means that some doctors prescribe antibiotics when it may not be the best practice, giving the bacteria a better chance to build up resistance. We need to be good stewards and judicious with our antibiotic use. This means tracking physicians, dentists, and other medical professionals&rsquo; antibiotic prescribing habits, and instructing them about best practice for antibiotics, along with incentivizing them to use antibiotics properly. </p>
<p>By 2017 the federal government will require that all hospitals track all use of antibiotics to ensure proper use for reimbursement. We also need to set parameters with patients on when to expect an antibiotic. This is a public health concern that affects everyone. It is our hope that antibiotic stewardship will buy the US sufficient time to research and implement more systems and strategies, and bring this important information to the world. </p>
<p>If you want to know more about Intermountain&rsquo;s commitment to Antibiotic Stewardship, contact Eddie Stenehjem, MD, or Whitney Buckel, PharmD, the co-chairs of Intermountain&rsquo;s central antibiotic stewardship team.<br />
&nbsp;</p>Fri, 17 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{655FDC8D-1D16-4C6A-890A-76A90C535B72}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/summer-safety-staying-safe-thunder-rolls-lightning-strikes/Summer Safety: Staying Safe When the Thunder Rolls and Lightning strikes<p class="p1">Colin Grissom, MD, a critical care physician and wilderness medicine expert at Intermountain Medical Center, gives some helpful advice on how to stay safe from lightning while you&rsquo;re out enjoying the backcountry this summer.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Plan ahead for lightning</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Before you head out to the backcountry, check the weather forecast for thunderstorms.</li>
<li>The majority of thunderstorms in Utah occur between 2 and 6 p.m. so try not to be out at that time. &ldquo;While storms are not entirely predictable in Utah, they most often come in the afternoon,&rdquo; said Dr. Grissom. &ldquo;So if you want to hike up onto a mountain ridge, do it in the morning so that you can be done before the afternoon thunderstorms roll in.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Whenever you plan a trip to the wilderness, make sure your plans include how you will respond to lightning. Share the lightning response plan with everyone in your group.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><strong>When is it time to get nervous about lightning?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>If you hear thunder, you are in danger of being hit by lightning.</strong> &ldquo;If you see distant lightning or hear thunder, you need to get off the ridge and seek shelter right away,&rdquo; Dr. Grissom says. &ldquo;If you&rsquo;re swimming or boating, head to shore immediately and get away from the water. Remaining in an open exposed area when there&rsquo;s lightning in the area is a bad idea.&rdquo;</li>
<li><strong>Signs of an imminent lightning strike</strong> include a lot of static electricity in the air, an ozone smell, nearby crackling sounds or a blue haze &mdash; known as &ldquo;St. Elmo&rsquo;s Fire&rdquo; &mdash; around objects and individuals. &ldquo;If your hair is standing on end, it is time to seek shelter,&rdquo; Dr. Grissom said.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><strong>Where should you seek shelter if you&rsquo;re caught in a storm?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Your best option is to seek shelter in a large enclosed building away from doors and windows.</li>
<li>A car with a metal roof (not a convertible) with the doors closed can also provide adequate shelter.</li>
<li>If you&rsquo;re far from cars and buildings, you can seek shelter inside a deep cave, far into a dense forest, or in a deep ravine.</li>
<li>DO NOT seek shelter near isolated trees, cellphone towers or any tall structures. Tents, shallow caves, and open shelters like picnic canopies and lean-tos should also be avoided.</li>
<li>If there&rsquo;s no shelter available and lightning is imminent, get as low as you can and assume the &ldquo;<em>lightning position</em>&rdquo; &mdash; crouch down with your feet close together and if possible get on top of something that will insulate you from the ground, like a pack, sleeping pad or coiled rope. &ldquo;The &lsquo;lightning position&rsquo; is a last resort, but it can help you avoid risk of injury,&rdquo; Dr. Grissom said. &ldquo;It is also a good idea to remove any metal objects from your body (like rings, necklaces, and watches) to reduce your risk of burns.&rdquo;</li>
<li>If you&rsquo;re in a group of people, spread out by at least 20 feet since lighting can jump up to 15 feet between objects. This will prevent mass casualties.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><strong>First aid for lightning strikes:</strong> &ldquo;First of all, lightning victims don&rsquo;t carry a residual charge, so you&rsquo;re fine to touch them immediately after the strike,&rdquo;Dr. Grissom said. &ldquo;Lightning often stops the victim&rsquo;s heart, but if you begin CPR right away or use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) if you have one, you may be able to get their heart going again. Lightning victims also often need treatment for burns. You should get them to an emergency department as soon as it is safe.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>What areas in Utah are the most dangerous for lightning?</strong> &ldquo;Anywhere that is high and exposed is dangerous during a lightning storm,&rdquo; Dr. Grissom said. &ldquo;I think the high Uintah Mountains are especially dangerous because they&rsquo;re so high and broad with limited shelter. But anytime you&rsquo;re on a high ridge you&rsquo;re in danger. The bottom line is, get off the ridge and into the valley as soon as your hear thunder.&rdquo;</p>Fri, 17 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{C87BF8CC-A640-4A1D-9B0F-4DC788064376}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/5-ways-to-creatively-combat-summer-boredom/5 Ways to Creatively Combat Summer Boredom<p> A common mistake parents make is providing their children with quick attention grabbers such as a movie or video game. But this is only a short-term fix. Instead, think of new, creative, innovative activities to stretch your child&rsquo;s imagination. Summer can be a time for your child to learn, grow, and discover through play. </p>
As parents you can help your children get out of the slump of summer boredom and hone in on their creativity. When armed with some information and clever ideas, you can help make summer fun again for your children.<br />
<br />
A great way to stimulate your child&rsquo;s imagination is by asking open-ended questions. Allow enough time for your child to come up with a solution. When you let children come up with their own solutions to boredom, you help them develop important problem-solving skills. But just in case they are having a hard time coming up with something on their own, here are a few ideas to keep summer interesting.<br />
<br />
<strong>1. Obstacle Course</strong><br />
<br />
An obstacle course is a great way for children to be able to plan, create, and execute a fun activity. It is a way for children to be physically active, and engage in outdoor play. Obstacle courses can be easily created from items found in your home and yard, and can be adapted for children of varying ages and abilities. It is also a great way to involve friends and neighbors in a friendly competition.<br />
<br />
<strong>2. Scavenger Hunt</strong><br />
<br />
There are many ways to get creative with a scavenger hunt, but most important, it is a way for children to creatively be involved and engaged. Simply create a list of items for your child to locate. This can be a specific list of items, or it can be a description where children then use their creativity to find the items that match the description -- something round, something green, something rough. This can be done in the house with simple items or in nature and around the yard. <br />
<br />
Another variation for a scavenger hunt is to hide just one special item and set up a list of clues, which will lead you there. This can be more time consuming, for both you and your child, but it can also be rewarding as children work to solve the clues and eventually find the item.<br />
<br />
<strong>3. Idea Jar/Craft Box</strong><br />
<br />
This can be a creative activity for the beginning of the summer to plan for future summer activities. When the children help make and plan these activities, they take more pride in and are more excited about participating in them. Create an idea jar where you write different activities on craft sticks. When your child wants something to do, or is just feeling bored, they can pick a craft stick. <br />
<br />
Crafts are something that most children enjoy. Whether the crafts are simple or more complex, most children take great pride and satisfaction in their creations. Preparing craft kits takes some time and preparation to gather materials and assemble the kits, but it is a creative way to combat boredom and foster imagination.<br />
<p><strong>4. Lemonade Stand</strong> </p>
A lemonade stand can be an exciting way to earn some money over the summer, and it teaches responsibility, work ethic, how to handle money, and even math and science skills by measuring and making the lemonade. They'll be learning and having fun at the same time. This becomes more of a learning experience for children if you have them earn the money to purchase supplies, or take out &ldquo;a loan&rdquo; then pay you back. Just a tip -- make sure they have plenty of ice; no one wants to buy warm lemonade on a hot summer day!<br />
<br />
<strong>5. Make A Movie</strong><br />
<br />
This is a creative way to beat summer boredom! We live in a technology-based society; children from a young age begin to understand how to operate all the gadgets. Why not let them use technology in a creative, imaginative, and exciting way. They can start by writing a script, then move on to casting, costuming, and filming. This can be a great way to involve friends and neighbors as well. To celebrate when it&rsquo;s finished, host a red carpet movie premiere and invite the participants.<br />
<br />
Beating summer boredom can take some preparation and imagination. Creativity is not something that always comes easily; in fact, it takes work. An important part of encouraging your child to combat boredom is to practice the art of creative thinking yourself. Have fun, get involved and embrace your &ldquo;inner child.&rdquo; As you do, your children will get more enjoyment and satisfaction out of the summer!Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{70A1602E-7478-48FB-BADD-7B341FA62DEE}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/is-population-health-the-holy-grail/Is Population Health the Holy Grail?<strong>What is Population Health? </strong>In simplest terms, Population Health is just what it says: providing for the health of a population. This is the work of Public Health Departments and is also what insurance companies have aimed to provide. In the context of healthcare reform, what we mean by Population Health is for healthcare provider organizations (healthcare systems, hospital organizations, physician groups) to take on the financial accountability for the health of a population. A payer, such as a health insurance plan, contracts with a provider organization to pay a set dollar amount for a covered population (such as a group of employees). The provider organization accepts financial accountability for the health of the population. A covered population can also be a defined group of Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, where the provider organization takes on financial accountability for members of the group. In this instance, the government will typically pay an insurance company a set amount of money for a given list of individuals. The insurance company then in turn contracts with providers (typically a healthcare system) to accept accountability for the health of all the individuals in the population.<br />
<br />
<strong>Who will Population Health help?</strong> If done well, Population Health will benefit everyone: individuals within the population, physicians who participate in these models, hospitals, and those who pay the bills, whether that is taxpayers (for government programs) or employers and individuals (for commercial insurance). All may benefit because this model aims to truly improve the health of the individuals included in the population&mdash;and to do it more cost-effectively compared to the current fee-for-service model.<br />
<br />
<strong>How will Population Health deliver on these promises?</strong> In and of itself, a provider organization&rsquo;s adoption of a Population Health model does not necessarily mean much. Two additional elements must be in place for the model to realize its enormous potential of better health, better care, and greater affordability. First, the provider organization must be thoroughly committed to achieving these aims and not merely see Population Health as a model to generate more revenue. Second, the provider organization will have to develop and deploy a challenging set of new competencies. <br />
<br />
In the Population Health model, patients will have more effective support to keep themselves healthy and to manage chronic illnesses. Also, the definition of &ldquo;patient&rdquo; will expand to include participants before they have a healthcare need. This will both improve health and save money. Physicians will have convenient access to more data &mdash; including costs and a more complete view of the patient&rsquo;s care history among different providers, hospitals, and clinics. This will enable them to treat patients much more effectively across time and locations rather than being focused on a single visit or series of visits related to a particular medical problem. Additionally, physicians will be paid for helping patients optimize their health, versus the fee-for-service model, which pays providers based on the volume of services provided. The new model shifts the focus to the quality of care and the outcome of better health, rather than on the quantity of care.<br />
<br />
<strong>Conclusion</strong>: Is Population Health the Holy Grail? Not necessarily. Adopting such an approach requires a lot of work and a lot of change for healthcare organizations. But for those committed to improving health and affordability, Population Health represents the most promising model.<br />Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{92250491-1E25-4D4D-A657-6FF26E3DC5D6}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/fall-by-former-president-george-bush-highlights-dangers-seniors/Senior Safety: Fall by Former President George H.W. Bush Highlights Dangers for Seniors<p>In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury, hospitalizations, and deaths for older adults. </p>
<p>&ldquo;We see many patients over the age of 65 who come to our emergency department by ambulance after falling in their homes,&rdquo; said Kristen Gooch, RN, MPH, Outreach and Injury Prevention Coordinator for the Intermountain Medical Center Trauma Program. &ldquo;Many of these falls are preventable and there are resources available to help older adults stay safe.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Experts have identified four key ways to prevent falls among older adults:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Exercise regularly</strong> &ndash; Exercising is a great way to improve leg strength and balance. The exercises should get more challenging over time to help increase strength. Tai Chi programs can be especially beneficial. </li>
<li><strong>Review medications with your doctor or pharmacist</strong> &ndash; Some medications may cause dizziness or drowsiness, or may interact with other medications. Those factors contribute to an increased risk of falling. </li>
<li><strong>Get an annual eye exam and update eyeglasses as needed</strong> &ndash; Poor vision frequently contributes to falls or accidents in older adults. Annual screenings can help ensure eyewear provides the best possible vision, thus reducing the risk of stumbling on something that isn&rsquo;t visible. </li>
<li><strong>Conduct a home safety evaluation</strong> &ndash; There are numerous ways a person can make their home safer, including removal of tripping hazards like floor rugs or power cords, adding grab bars inside and outside of the tub, and improving lighting in the home.</li>
</ol>
<p> The Utah Department of Health, in conjunction with health departments and agencies across the state, offer a free seven-week workshop that teaches seniors exercises and strategies to help them stay strong, active, and independent. The &lsquo;Stepping On&rsquo; program has been proven to reduce falls by 30 percent in older adults. More information on the program can be found <a href="www.health.utah.gov/vipp/older-adults/falls" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>Thu, 16 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{2E934BCA-7EA6-44E7-9BF6-3EC0A7235E44}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/collaboration-on-the-rise-between-utah-and-france-heatlhcare-systems/Collaboration on the Rise Between Utah and France Healthcare Systems<p>The U.S. health care system is often compared to European systems in unflattering terms, yet European countries are also under increasing pressure to increase their quality of care and efficiency. Many are looking to the United States for innovative, proven solutions. There is much that we can learn from each other. A newly formed collaboration involving Utah&rsquo;s Intermountain Healthcare and the French government is providing one vehicle for that learning. </p>
<p>Last February, senior leaders from Intermountain were invited to France to meet with that nation&rsquo;s top health care officials, including the French vice-minister of health, senior government health policy leaders, physicians, and the leader of health insurance for the Paris region. At these meetings, French officials were keenly interested in how medical services are provided in Utah and in adopting many practices used here. </p>
The rest of this article can be viewed here: <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865631988/Collaborations-on-the-rise-between-Utah-and-French-health-care-systems.html?pg=all" target="_blank">http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865631988/Collaborations-on-the-rise-between-Utah-and-French-health-care-systems.html?pg=all</a><br />Wed, 15 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{064DBFB5-A5AF-44E7-B766-CC054719178A}https://10.40.239.128/blogs/2015/07/wedding-ring-injury-sidelines-tv-talk-show-host-jimmy-fallon-ring-avulsion/Wedding Ring Injury Sidelines TV Talk Show Host Jimmy Fallon – Are You at Risk for Ring Avulsion?<p class="p1">The injury &ndash; called ring avulsion &ndash; occurred when Fallon tripped on a rug at home and snagged his ring on a countertop as he fell. The digit was bent completely sideways and required six hours of intricate surgery, including a vein transplant from his foot. Doctors were able to save the finger.</p>
<p class="p1">Although Fallon made the injury seem like it wasn&rsquo;t a big deal, ring avulsion can be serious, resulting in possible amputation of the finger.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Here&rsquo;s what happened.</strong></p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;My ring got caught on the countertop, got stuck there, and pulled my finger off!&rdquo; explained Fallon during his <a href="https://youtu.be/CztT_pBFQv8" target="_blank">Monday evening broadcast</a>.&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m getting up and my finger is sideways. It looks completely fake, like a cheap horror movie where you see a broken finger &ndash; that&rsquo;s what it looks like.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>The Three Grades of Ring Avulsion</strong></p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;When a standard wedding ring is caught on something, chances are the skin and tissue will fail long before the ring,&rdquo; said Bill Gowski, MD, a hand and microvascular surgeon at <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/tosh/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">TOSH &ndash; The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital</a> in Murray, Utah.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;In a ring avulsion, the ring acts like a tourniquet and pulls tissue or skin off the finger. The injury can range from discoloration of the finger due to internal damage of the tissue, or complete removal of skin and tissue from the bone, known as de-gloving,&rdquo; added Dr. Gowski.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Low Grade</strong> &ndash; The finger received some trauma and may experience swelling. However, there is blood flow to the finger, so treatment typically involves placing a splint and letting the injury heal.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Medium Grade</strong> &ndash; During the fall, the artery in the finger was stretched and the inner layer of the artery is damaged, causing the blood to clot and restrict blood flow into the finger. Treatment would require an artery graft to replace the damaged one and restore blood flow to the finger.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>High Grade</strong> &ndash; The ring may actually de-glove the finger bone, removing skin and tissue completely off of the bone. In this instance, amputation is highly likely.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Life After a Ring Avulsion Injury</strong></p>
<p class="p1">If you suffer a ring avulsion, you should go to the emergency room so the injury can be evaluated and graded appropriately. You may be referred to a hand specialist who can evaluate and provide the best treatment option based on the grade of the injury.</p>
<p class="p1">People who suffer a medium grade injury should get back 80% of the sensation in the finger, but physical therapy may be required to get back the full range of motion in the finger.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;In many cases, having a stiff finger long term is a likely outcome,&rdquo; said Dr Gowski. &ldquo;Jimmy may have trouble playing the guitar like he used to. The extent of recovery is typically dependent upon the severity of the initial injury. With therapy and the passage of time, he may be able to get the finger back to normal, but at the very least I would expect some minor deficits in motion and/or sensation.&rdquo;</p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600